The Hunger Games By Suzanne Collins

Title:   The Hunger Games

Author:  Suzanne Collins

Publisher:  Scholastic            Year: 2009 c2008

ISBN:  978-0-439-02352-8

Genre: Fiction/Adventure/Science Fiction

This book is for Ages: 12 up

Awards: Publisher’s Weekly Best Books, Kirkis Editor’s Choice, SLJ Best Book, California Young Reader Medal

AR Points:     15.0

 Subjects/Themes: Survival, Poverty, Trust, Government Control Dystopia

Plot Summary:  16 year-old Katniss Everdeen has been providing for her family since her father died five years ago.  She breaks the laws of the government of Panem everyday by hunting with her bow for fresh meat, and gathering fruits and vegetable in the woods.  When Katniss’ 12-year old sister Prim is chosen for the Hunger Games, a government-sponsored reality television competition where 12 boys and girls compete to the death, Katniss takes her place.   She and Peeta, the kind baker’s son, must travel to the Capitol and compete for their lives against others who are stronger and more cunning.  Can Katniss win the hunger games?  What about the others?  She likes, Peeta and even Rue the young competitor who reminds her so much of Prim.  Can she bring herself to fight them for her life?

Review:   Compelling novel with an action driven storyline.  The novel examines ideas of survival, government control, trust and even the reality of reality television.  Collins character is a very strong, very tough, young girl who will do whatever she must to survive.  I did not put this book down from the first page. Best for young adult audiences.

If you like this book you may also like:  City of Ember

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

Title:  Paranormalcy

Author:  Kiersten White

Publisher: Harper Teen Year: 2010

ISBN:  978-0-06-198584-3

Genre: Fiction/ Fantasy

This book is for grades: 6 and up    

Awards:  YALSA Teen Top Ten

Subjects/Themes: Fantasy, Fairies, Mysteries

AR Points: 10

Plot Summary:  16-year-old Evie can see through the glamour that fairies, vampires and other creatures use to fool humans.  She has been able to for as long as she can remember and has been working for the International Paranormal Containment Agency (IPCA) since she was eight.  Evie’s best friend is a mermaid and she sort of dated a fairy name Reth.  Now she wants him to leave her alone.  More than anything in the world Evie wants to live a normal life and go to high school.  One day, Evie helps catch an intruder at IPCA who turns out to be a cute 17-year-old boy named Lend.  Lend is trying to solve the mystery about the strange creature that has been killing vampires and other magical creatures.  Solving the problem of the creature becomes a big worry for Evie, especially when she discovers she and the creature are linked by a fairy prophesy.

Review:  Evie is a fantastic, smart, girl with a quirky fashion sense.  She loves pink and her favorite High School TV show Easton Heights.  Evie is definitely someone you would want to have as a friend, cousin or sister.  Lend seems like a normal (almost) teenage guy.  He is not really sure who he is, but he is a great guy. The other characters fairies, vampires, werewolves, mermaids, water sprites and yes humans are all interesting.  White gets rid of the silly romance that usually surrounds vampires in the first chapter.  Paranormalcy has plenty of humor to relieve the tension from the mystery and the suspense will keep you reading all night long. White creates an alternate universe that is believable and refreshing although not without flaws. This is a great book for older ‘tweens to adults.

If you like this book you may also like:  Supernaturally by Kiersten White,

Down the Rabbit Hole

Title:  Down the Rabbit Hole

Author: Peter Abrahams

Publisher: Harper Collins, 2005; ISBN: 0-06-078664-7

Series:  Echo Falls

Genre: Fiction/Mystery

This book is for children in grades: 6 - 12

Subjects/Themes: Murder/Suspense
Awards:  Booklist Editor's Choice, Edgar Award/Honor Book, Agatha Award
AR Points: 10
Format: Audiobook

Plot Summary:  Finding herself lost on the way to soccer practice 13-year-old  Ingrid, an eighth grader in Echo Falls ends up in the home of Cracked up Katie waiting for a cab. Just hours later, Katie is murdered.  Ingrid left her red sequined soccer cleats in Katie’s living room.  What will mom say if she knew Ingrid was there?  Will Joey's dad, the chief of police, find her through her cleats?  Will he think she is a suspect?  Ingrid heard a strange noise in Katie’s house while she was there.  Could it have been the killer?   Ingrid's family has problems too.  Ty her freshman brother is acting strange.  Mom and Dad are both super preoccupied with work.  Dad puts so much pressure on her and Ty about winning and college.  Ingrid must find a way to win at soccer, get the lead in the play and solve the murder mystery.  Can she follow in Sherlock Holmes' footsteps?  What if the killer comes looking for Ingrid?

Review:  I started listening to this book years ago on a trip with my family.  The trip ended before the novel and I was super excited to finish listening to this book.  I have to admit I was pretty disappointed.  I wanted to like this book.  The plot was just too simple.  It was way to easy to figure out who the killer was and I really did not like Ingrid.  Sure she is smart.  But she handles every situation she gets into with lying and/or stealing.  After a while I just did not respect her character.  Also, Ingrid's family has problems. Ty her brother is violent and her parents simply aren't engaged.  As the first book there are plenty of questions to answer in the rest of the books in the series.  This is a decent story but there are better books out there.

If you like this book you may also like:  Nancy Drew Mysteries